Paper-testing machine



PAPER TESTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 20. 1927 4 INVEUJUOR. /0 "lllllll 26 BY {WQ AI/aw I 5%,

ATTORNE? Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

UNITED ISL'ITAT Es Parr or CASPER R. TAYLOR, OF.WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO FOREIGN PAPER MILLS, INC.', A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PAPER-TESTING MACHINE.

Application filed September 20, 1927. Serial No. 220,708.

F ig.a2 isa front elevation of the same on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 2, and

Figs. 4, and 6 are perspective views of various details.

The apparatus shown consists of a bed plate or body 1 upon which is mounted a device for gripping and holding under tension a test strip of paper and means which engage the central part of the strip and by a reciprocatory movement cause the same to be folded alternately in opposite directions, the operation being repeated until the paper becomes so weakened along the line of fold as to break.

The means for gripping the test strip a consists of a pair of oppositely disposed clamps 2 having jaws which open sufficiently to receive the ends of the strip and which are drawn tightly together by thumb screws 3. These clamps are mounted upon the ends of tapered rods 4 which are square in cross section and telescope within the supports 5. The recesses 5 in said supports for receiving said rods are tapered as shown and of similar cross section to the rods. Tension devices such as coil springs 6 are secured to the inner ends of said rods, the other ends of the tension devices being secured to a suitable adjustment (not shown) for varying the tension thereof. The shoulders 7 of the clamps 2 are drawn against the surfaces 8 of the horizontal supports 5 by the action of the tension devices'6, and act as stops to limit the outward movement of said clamps.

When it is desired to insert a test strip of paper the clamps 2 are drawn outwardly with respect to the horizontal supports as shownin Fig. 2, one end of the strip is inserted betweenthe. jaws of each clamp and the thumb screws tightened to hold the strip which will be under tension by reason of the tension devices (3.

The repeated foldings of the test strip areefi'ected by means of'a reciprocatory plate-9 formed with a vertical slot 10 which receives the centralportion of 'thestrip and draws the samealternately'back and forth between oppositely disposed pairs of vertical rollers 11, 11 and 12, 12 (.see Fig. 1). Plate. 9 is secured toa rectangular rod 13 andaneans for rapidly reciprocating same in a. horizontal plane are provided, the rodoccupying a guide groove in platelS.

The means shown comprise a large drive wheel l l whicll may be operated by hand or by a gear-15mountech on power shaft 16 asshown. Thegear l lisrig-id with ashaft 17' upon which is mounted a crank disk 18 for driving the connecting rod 19. One end of the connecting rod is connected as shown at 20 with the rear end of the rod 13. A counter 21 is provided for indicating the number of revolutions of the shaft 17. The movement of the plate 9 in either direaction from a central position draws the paper strip a into a fold and causes the clamps 2 to be drawn toward each other against the action of the tension devices 6. The tension devices cause the clamps to move in a reverse direction as the slotted plate 9 moves toward its central position.

In order that the test may afford an accurate and reliable indication of the strength and quality of the paper strip, it is important that the clamps 2 which support the strip (a be mounted with considerable freedom of movement so that the strip will be at all times under tension applied in a straight line and so that the strip will not be held twisted but in a true vertical plane. It will be seen that by virtue of the tapered form of the rods 4 and recesses 5 the clamps 2 are capable of movement in horizontal and vertical planes as they are drawn toward each other by the movements of the slotted plate 9. In order to control such movement and cause the clamps to move in a true hori Zontal plane without any lateral yielding 0r oscillation about a horizontal axis, I pro vide horizontal rollers 22 of substantial width upon which the clamps rest as shown in Fig. 2. The lower surfaces of the clamps which rest upon the rollers are also of sub stantial width. The rollers 22 by reason of their width and that of the lower surfaces of the clamps form a laterally extended support for the clamps 2 so that it will be impossible for the clamp to oscillate about a horizontal axis.

A vertical adjustment for the rollers 2:2 is provided which enables the clamp to move in a horizontal plane. Any suitable means may be employed for this purpose but I prefer that shown which consists of a VGltlCfll post 23 having a fork at its upper end between the arms 24 of which the roller is positioned and mounted for rotation. The lower end of the post is formed with an external thread 25 as shown and there is an internally threaded collar 26 which engages the same. The set screw 27 passes through the bed plate and its upper end is threaded within the lower end of the post 23. The head of the set screw 27 engages the bed plate and draws the parts 23, 26 and 1 firmly together thus supporting the roller 22 firmly and accurately in the position desired.

Having now described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a paper testing machine, means for gripping the extremities of a test strip of paper, said means being capable of movement toward and away from each other and of oscillation about a horizontal axis and having lower guiding surfaces of substantial width, resilient means for resisting movement of said gripping means toward each other, and horizontal rollers upon which the guiding surfaces of said gripping means rest during their reciprocatory movement, said rollers being of sulticient width to prevent oscillation of said gripping means.

2. In a paper testing machine, means for gripping the extremities of a test strip of paper, said means being capable of movement toward and away from each other and of oscillation about a horizontal axis and having lower guiding surfaces of substantial width, resilient means for resisting movement of said gripping means toward each other, horizontal rollers of substantial width uponmwl'iich the guiding surfaces of said gripping means rest during their reciprocatory movement, supports for said rollers and means for vertically adjusting said supports to bring the tops of the rollers into horizontal. alignment with the guiding surfaces of said gripping means.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my signature.

CASPER R. TAYLOR. 

